Holiday Traditions: The One We Won't Have

It's my favorite time of the year.

I just love the holidays.  I always have. And now that we have kids of our own, everything just moves to a whole new level of awesome!

There are so many neat ideas out there for creating lasting traditions and fun memories with your kids.  The girls already look forward to the family Christmas Eve gift of a new movie and PJs.

There is one tradition we will not adopt.

Ever.

Elf on the damn shelf.

https://goo.gl/1oZjQm

WHAT???? But he's soooo cute and your kids will act better when they know he's watching.

You see, for me the reason to say NO to that creepy little doll is a simple one.

I don't need something else to forget to do.

I burn my candle at both ends with (soon to be) 3 kiddos age 4 and under, teaching full time, and all the things that go along with being a wife, mother, and teacher.  I am picky about adding things to my plate, because I have to be.

I am not attracted to things that are just cutesy, silly, and "fun."  In order for me to want to add it into our lives it has to serve a purpose.  I love the idea of building our traditions around the kitchen.  Decorating cookies, creating different designs on the tops of pies, and learning lessons from grandma on how to make home-made noodles.  I will make time in our schedule for things like that. Things that teach my children something valuable.  Learning how to behave in the kitchen, wait your turn, and create a plate of goodies to share with family and friends.

I know that not everything we do has "value" and is a "learning opportunity."  But the those things don't need much of MY time and effort.  Disney movies are perfect forms of fun for my girls to watch that actually give me time to fold one of the 12 loads of laundry and fix dinner.  Hopefully in this process I am also modeling for my girls how to be both a mommy and hold a full-time job.  It is possible, but it comes with choices on what to do with the time we have.  I don't always make the best choice, but I know that moving an elf to a different spot each morning is an easy one to avoid.

This in no way means that I am judging the families whom Elfie is already formed in their traditions or those who can't wait to use him someday.  That's awesome and I enjoy looking at your pictures on Facebook each morning where Elfie ended up!  I'm just not going to set my kids up for the disappointment of Elfie showing up the first day and then forgetting.